Hope you all are doing well...does anyone else feel like they take a rediculous amount of pills every day?? I have recently bought some vitamins so daily I take: one multivitamin, one acidophilus, one fem doph, one rx essentials vitamin (just started trying these), my birth control, and my effexor. feels like so many! Almost feel like I need to get a weekly pill case or something!

Anyway..I haven't actually started taking the fem doph regularly yet. I have a 30 day supply and I am hoping by the time I finish it I will see improvement. Regarding the tree tea oil...I saw someone mention the suppositories, are these the ones from iherb.com? If so, are they sufficient in the dosage amount (regarding the recently posted article about low doses)

I am feeling pretty discouraged lately..seems my BV is getting a little worse than usual..although I did go out drinking on Friday..maybe that has something to do with it...

Repeated exposure to low doses of Tea Tree Oil – a common ingredient in many beauty products – can increase the chances of suffering from “superbug” infections, University of Ulster scientists have revealed.

They discovered that exposure to low doses of Tea Tree Oil make pathogens such as MRSA, E. coli and Salmonella more resistant to antibiotics, and capable of causing more serious infections.

Dr Ann McMahon and Professor David McDowell, members of the University’s Food Microbiology Research Group, said: “We have been growing pathogens such as MRSA, E-coli and Salmonella in low concentrations of tea tree oil. These concentrations are not sufficient to kill the bacteria, but can switch on their defense mechanisms. Unfortunately, these defence mechanisms have the added effect of making bacteria more resistant to antibiotics, and able to cause “harder to treat” infections.”

Tea Tree Oil is used commercially in many products including shampoos, body lotions and toiletries, but there is no legislation requiring manufacturers to state the concentration of tea tree oil in these products. This increases the risks that people will use low concentrations of tea tree oil, which fail to kill bacteria, but increase their resistance to antibiotics. So, if a person uses tea tree oil products on their skin repeatedly, any MRSA on their skin could develop increased resistance to the antibiotics which are used to control MRSA infections.

“The bottom line is that tea tree oil should not be used at low concentrations – less than 4% - to make sure that bacteria are killed, not just stressed. Otherwise we are just arming the bacteria against treatment by antibiotics.”

Publishing their findings in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, the scientists said: “Although tea tree oil may be an effective antimicrobial agent when appropriately used at high (bactericidal) concentrations, its application at low (sub-lethal) concentrations may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in human pathogens”.

Repeated exposure to low doses of Tea Tree Oil – a common ingredient in many beauty products – can increase the chances of suffering from “superbug” infections, University of Ulster scientists have revealed.

They discovered that exposure to low doses of Tea Tree Oil make pathogens such as MRSA, E. coli and Salmonella more resistant to antibiotics, and capable of causing more serious infections.

Dr Ann McMahon and Professor David McDowell, members of the University’s Food Microbiology Research Group, said: “We have been growing pathogens such as MRSA, E-coli and Salmonella in low concentrations of tea tree oil. These concentrations are not sufficient to kill the bacteria, but can switch on their defense mechanisms. Unfortunately, these defence mechanisms have the added effect of making bacteria more resistant to antibiotics, and able to cause “harder to treat” infections.”

Tea Tree Oil is used commercially in many products including shampoos, body lotions and toiletries, but there is no legislation requiring manufacturers to state the concentration of tea tree oil in these products. This increases the risks that people will use low concentrations of tea tree oil, which fail to kill bacteria, but increase their resistance to antibiotics. So, if a person uses tea tree oil products on their skin repeatedly, any MRSA on their skin could develop increased resistance to the antibiotics which are used to control MRSA infections.

“The bottom line is that tea tree oil should not be used at low concentrations – less than 4% - to make sure that bacteria are killed, not just stressed. Otherwise we are just arming the bacteria against treatment by antibiotics.”

Publishing their findings in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, the scientists said: “Although tea tree oil may be an effective antimicrobial agent when appropriately used at high (bactericidal) concentrations, its application at low (sub-lethal) concentrations may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in human pathogens”.

Apparently Tea Tree Oil has antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties. The bacteria associated with BV are more susceptible to TTO than our beneficial bacteria. So I guess this is why some women have controlled their BV using it.

[ These MIC data are similar to those obtained in previous studies which indicated that a variety of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria were susceptible to tea tree oil (2–4). The data also show that all lactobacilli tested were appreciably more resistant to tea tree oil than organisms known to be associated with BV, with at least a twofold difference in MIC90 results. Therefore, the clinical success reported by Blackwell (1) may be due, in part, to the susceptibility of BV-associated organisms to tea tree oil and the relative resistance of commensal lactobacilli.

Hi, Jewels...After using boric acid for a couple of weeks, back when I was having recurring bouts of BV & yeast infections, I then used tea tree oil suppositories that I bought at my local healthfood store (also available online) for maintenance purposes. I did this for about 2 months, using a piece of a suppository every other day.

The TTO was wonderful. I found a link via Google Scholar (I no longer have quick access to it) that tested TTO in vitro on strains of the good vaginal lactobacili. It showed that it did not kill off the good bacteria, unlike boric acid & most prescription meds. It does have effective antiviral, antifungal & antibacterial properties. (I read that it even will kill the MRSA antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria that has been much in the news in the recent past.)

Cheers!Maggie

Apparently Tea Tree Oil has antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties. The bacteria associated with BV are more susceptible to TTO than our beneficial bacteria. So I guess this is why some women have controlled their BV using it.

[ These MIC data are similar to those obtained in previous studies which indicated that a variety of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria were susceptible to tea tree oil (2–4). The data also show that all lactobacilli tested were appreciably more resistant to tea tree oil than organisms known to be associated with BV, with at least a twofold difference in MIC90 results. Therefore, the clinical success reported by Blackwell (1) may be due, in part, to the susceptibility of BV-associated organisms to tea tree oil and the relative resistance of commensal lactobacilli.

(Sorry to sound testy, but hey, it's been frustrating. So many people in here repeating the mantra, "Flagyl doesn't work" over and over. Gah.)

Anyway, I know that going to the doctor is annoying and expensive, but I do think it's important that a doctor is involved somewhere in your treatment, and that you're not 100% self-treating. BV has a nasty smell, yes, but it's not just about the smell! Untreated BV can have health consequences, so it's about health. And if you restore the health, the smell will go away too.

Nono! Thank you~ I didn't even KNOW about FemD until I stumbled upon this site! I also think I can use it once a week and it will still be effective (unlike certain drugs where if you don't take it for 2 weeks straight your body will learn to fight it off) because since the first day I have been symptom free and I've only taken maybe a total of 4. However, I totally agree with you about seeing my doctor, but now I can go for the regular Papsmear checkup instead of going EVERY 3 months and complaining about smell =)

Is Fem Dophilus by itself pointless? Should it always be paired with Flagyl or similar?

I wouldn't say it's pointless. It's supposed to replenish the good bacteria, so I think that alone can help some women.

However, Dr. Reid specified in his lecture that Fem-Dophilus is not supposed to be considered a cure. So I think that you need a prescription cure to kill off the bad bacteria first.

I've always been hesitant to tell anyone in this thread - you have to do this, and then this, etc. My goal has always been to just share what I know and let people make their own decisions; and also to clear up whatever misinformation I see.

So in that vein ... understand how Fem-D works and then make your own decision about whether you need flagyl or not.

QUOTE(stressed43 @ Mar 15 2008, 09:32 PM)

... The thing about Flagyl ...is that it works, but if you have to take something later...it totally negates the fact u ever took it...(meaning waste of money and time)

Thank you for finally getting what I've been saying this thread many times. Flagyl WORKS. It just doesn't prevent a recurrence. Because so many people experience BV again after Flagyl (including me), people have wrongly written it off as - Flagyl doesn't work.

Flagyl works. Just doesn't prevent recurrence. Thank you!!!

(Sorry to sound testy, but hey, it's been frustrating. So many people in here repeating the mantra, "Flagyl doesn't work" over and over. Gah.)

I'm not saying anyone has to take Flagyl. Just make an informed choice.

Anyway, I know that going to the doctor is annoying and expensive, but I do think it's important that a doctor is involved somewhere in your treatment, and that you're not 100% self-treating. BV has a nasty smell, yes, but it's not just about the smell! Untreated BV can have health consequences, so it's about health. And if you restore the health, the smell will go away too.

Is Fem Dophilus by itself pointless? Should it always be paired with Flagyl or similar?

Fem D works for me without Flagyl. The thing about Flagyl ...is that it works, but if you have to take something later...it totally negates the fact u ever took it...(meaning waste of money and time) For example...I took Flagyl for a week or two and symptoms were completely gone. MONTHs later I started YASMIN and Bv symptoms instantly came back THAT DAY! SO what I like about FEM D (even tho im very new to it myself (about one week) is that I can take birth control or whatever else I need to take and I still smell normal. ANNND flagyl you need a prescription and I HATE going to my gyno and retelling her the same story and her tellin me the sAME thing..."i'll prescribe you flagyl again". At least with Fem D I can pop into WholeFoods and just grab it and go home. No appointments. No prescription. No hassles

But unfortunately as aforementioned, Fem D doesn't work for everyone =( I hope hope hope it will keep working for me though!! And I really appreciate that we can all talk and help eachother out on here. Anyone else would just judge or joke about it.

I would like to thank everybody for their input, advice, experiences, etc. You have all bee soooooooooooooo helpful and I'm so happy I found this forum. I will keep you apprise of my situation. I feel with Fem D in my system now for one week I will start the Clindesse on Monday, refrain from sex for two weeks ,and continue the Fem D. Hopefully when all is under control I will take the TTO the day after sex. My poor boyfriend!!!! He will just have to take it or leave it!! I can't wait to feel normal down there again. You all have been GREAT! Thanks a million!!! Anyone from NY?

Just type Fem Dophilus (it's by Jarrow) in the search bar of Iherb and it will come up.

QUOTE(yme30 @ Mar 14 2008, 10:15 AM)

Hi all got a question or two. When I go to iherb.com to look for the Fem-D what exactly am I looking for its like a jungle out there I need to know the exact brand so please help me someone.

Also I still have a two week supply of the oral metro from maybe two months ago, can I still use it, I think I will have much better success using it in combo with the Fem-D but is it still potent since its been so long just sitting in my cabinet? Thanks all!!!

I always get a yeast from antibiotics. So if you are the same on day three take diflucan or monostat.

QUOTE(kristen @ Mar 12 2008, 01:44 PM)

i just got back from the doctor and i have strep throat. he gave me penicillin, i'm just wondering if any of ya'll have gotten yeast infections from penicillin and will it kill any of those stinky bastards in my vag. what should be my plan of action while taking the penicillin.

Yes, I noticed that too and it's like sticky right? It should go away. It's pretty funny...well not really...that I've had this so long I forgot what a normal discharge looks like!!!!

QUOTE(stressed43 @ Mar 12 2008, 01:02 PM)

hey girls

I have been takin FemD for just a couple days and the smell is completely gone. But you know how if you have BV the inside of your vagina is like really wet or has that thin white/grey disharge that comes out? I still have that, but now it doesn't smell gross. Do you think that goes away in time too? or that it will stay? And what is that all about anyway?

Hi all got a question or two. When I go to iherb.com to look for the Fem-D what exactly am I looking for its like a jungle out there I need to know the exact brand so please help me someone.

Also I still have a two week supply of the oral metro from maybe two months ago, can I still use it, I think I will have much better success using it in combo with the Fem-D but is it still potent since its been so long just sitting in my cabinet? Thanks all!!!